Prenoxad Injection is a pre-filled syringe containing 1mg/ml naloxone hydrochloride solution for injection. Martindale Pharma announced the world's first licensed emergency treatment for acute opioid related overdose for use at home or other non-medical settings.

There are more than 1,000 fatal opioid related overdoses just in the UK each year, with a significant proportion of these being witnessed by other people who use drugs, family members and loved ones.

The UK Government and each of the devolved administrations have identified overdose and drugs related deaths as a significant public health concern. The provision of naloxone to people at risk of overdose is already underway in Scotland, Wales, and Northern Ireland on a national basis, with many local programmes in existence across England. In May 2012 the Advisory Council on Misuse of Drugs (ACMD) published a report on naloxone including the recommendation that: "Naloxone should be made more widely available to tackle the high numbers of fatal opioid overdoses in the UK."

Prenoxad Injection is a Prescription Only Medicine (POM) containing a solution of naloxone hydrochloride. It is intended for emergency use for the complete or partial reversal of life-threatening respiratory depression following the administration of natural or synthetic opioids. Naloxone is an 'opioid antagonist' medicine with an excellent safety and efficacy profile following use over more than four decades.

Prenoxad Injection will be made available to people who are at risk of opioid related overdose or to their nominated client or representative. It will be administered as part of an emergency resuscitation intervention in suspected overdose casualties and must be used in combination with other basic life support measures, like calling an ambulance.

The Prenoxad Injection pack has been tailored for use by non-healthcare profession individuals in non-clinical settings and comprises of: a yellow translucent plastic box, one pre-filled syringe containing 2ml of 1mg /ml naloxone hydrochloride and two 23G x 11/4 inch needles, inside the box is a Patient Information Leaflet containing product instructions and first aid guidelines appropriate to managing opiate overdose.

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